Self-steered and self-propelled toy vehicle



Aug. 9, 1966 TING HOK- SHOU SELF-"STEERED AND SELF-PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE Filed June 26, .1964

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1966 w TING HOK-SHOU 3,264,781

' SELF-STEERED AND SELF-PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE Filed June 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/vvs/vrok ao i/v M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,264,781 SELF-STEERED AND SELF-PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE Ting Hok-Shou, North Point, Hong Kong, assignor to Kader Industrial Company Limited, a corporation of Hong Kong Filed June 26, 1964, Ser. No. 37 8,273 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Mar. 4, 1964, 9,232/64 8 Claims. (Cl. 46-244) The \present invention relates to self-propelled toy vehicles and is particularly intended for application to a toy vehicle driven by an electric motor, which draws current from one or more storage cells carried on the vehicle. The invention may however be applied to toy vehicles that are propelled by clockwork or like means.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means for directing a toy vehicle along a non-circular path and to this end a toy vehicle is provided with a means for altering the steering angle of the front wheel, the said means being caused to act as a result of the vehicle motion. Most conveniently the means for altering the steering angle of the front axle obtains the necessary actuation as a result of the rotation of one or both front wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provide easy adjustment which will alter the locus or shape of the nonclrcular path which the vehicle describes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means for causing a toy vehicle to .follow a path consisting of a series of loops which do not follow the immediately preceding or succeeding loop.

According to the present invention in a self-propelled toy vehicle in combination a body, a substantially vertical pivot on the body, a bracket mounted on said pivot for swinging movement thereabout, a steering axle rotatably mounted in said bracket, a drive worm fastened on said axle, a worm wheel arranged to rotate about a pivot in said bracket and to mesh with said drive worm, a pivot positioned eccentrically on said worm wheel, a fixed pivot on said body and a link pivotally connected to said eccentric pivot and to said fixed pivot, whereby rotation of the steering axle turns the worm wheel and swings the bracket about its pivot so as to vary continuously the steering angle of the wheels of the steerable axle.

The position of the fixed pivot is preferably variable and this may be conveniently achieved by providing the fixed pivot on a circular member, which may be secured at different angular positions in a correspondingly shaped socket in the underside of the body of the toy Vehicle. Reference is hereinafter made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal vertical section,

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section on line A-A of FIGURE 1 with some parts removed,

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section on line B-B of FIGURE 1 with some :parts removed,

FIGURE 4 is an underside view of the circular memher.

The vehicle comprises a two-piece moulded plastic body comprising an upper part 1 and a lower part 2, which are joined to each other by screws 3 and 4. The vehicle includes a rear axle 5, carrying wheels 6, one or both of which may be fastened to turn with the axle. The rear axle 5 is driven by an electric motor 7, powered by a battery 8 in the conventional manner. The spindle lot the motor 7 carries a pinion 9 which meshes with a bevel gear 10, secured to the rear axle 5 thus transmitting drive to one or both the rear wheels.

A swinging bracket 11 is mounted on a substantially vertical pivot 12, the ends of which are supported in the ice upper and lower body parts 1 and 2. The swinging bracket 11 is a plastic moulding and is provided with a pair of downturned cheeks 13, in Which are mounted bearings 14 (see FIGURE 2) to receive a front axle 15, which carries wheels 16, one or both of which may be secured to the axle so that movement of the vehicle turns the axle 15. A worm 17 is secured to the front axle 15 and meshes with a worm wheel 18, which is mounted to .turn concentrically about a pivot pin 19, secured in the swinging bracket 11.

The worm wheel 18 has an eccentric crank pin or pivot 20 moulded integrally therewith. The crank pin 20 is connected by a link plate 21 to a pivot 22 (FIGURE 3) on a circular lever member 23, which is rotatably mounted in a socket in the lower body part 2, so as to be substantially concentric with the pivot pin 19. Rotation of the member 23 is limited by the engagement of a screw 24 in an arcuate slot in an extension 25 of the circular member 23 (FIGURE 4) so that change of the position of the extension 25 in relation to the screw 24 changes the position of the pivot 22 in relation to the axis of the worm wheel 18. In consequence the swinging movement of the bracket 11, imposed by the connection of .the crank pin 20 to the fixed pivot 22 by the link 21, is altered. The screw 24 can be used to clamp the extension 25 against the body part 2 and thus lock the circular member 23 in dilferent angular positions in the socket in the lower body part 2. It will be realised that, in many possible positions of the pivot 22, the vehicle will not follow a fixed orbital path and will in fact follow a different path in each revolution. Further, each different angular setting of the circular member in the socket will cause the vehicle to follow a different path for each adjustment.

The vehicle can be set in motion by means of a switch 26 connected in the battery circuit and controlled by rotation of a knob 27. The switch 26 has a spring contact arm 28 which closes the battery circuit to supply the motor on being forced against a contact post 29 when the knob 27 is rotated by a nose portion 30 connected to the knob 27 I claim:

1. In a se1f-propelled toy vehicle in combination a body, a substantially vertical pivot on the body, a bracket mounted on said pivot for swinging movement thereabout, a steering axle rotatably mounted in said bracket, a drive worm fastened on said axle, a worm wheel arranged to rotate about a pivot in said bracket and to mesh with said drive worm, a pivot positioned eccentrically on said worm Wheel, a fixed pivot on said body and a link pivotally connected to said eccentric pivot and to said fixed pivot, whereby rotation of the steering axle turns the worm wheel and swings the bracket about its pivot so as to vary continuously the steering angle of the wheels of the steerable axle.

2. A self-propelled toy vehicle comprising a body, a driving axle mounted in said body, a battery-powered electric motor in driving engagement with said axle, a substantially vertical pivot extending downwardly inside said body, a bracket mounted on said pivot for swinging movement, a steering axle rotatably mounted in said bracket, a drive worm fastened on said steering axle, a worm wheel rotatably carried on said bracket and meshing with said drive worm, a pivot positioned eccentrically on said worm wheel, a fixed, adjustable pivot on said body, a link connected to said eccentric pivot and to said fixed, adjustable pivot and means for adjusting the position of the adjustable pivot, whereby rotation of the steering axle causes the worm wheel to rotate and the bracket to swing horizontally about its pivot so as to vary continuously the steering angle so that the vehicle follows a predetermined n-on-circular path and whereby adjustment of said Patented August 9, 1966 adjustable pivot causes alteration of the locus of said predetermined non-circular path.

3. A self-propelled toy vehicle preferably provided with a battery-powered electric motor, the vehicle comprising a body, a substantially vertical first pivot on :the body, a bracket adapted to swing about said first pivot, :a

steering axle rotatably mounted in said bracket, adrive worm 'fastened on the axle, a worm wheel arranged to rotate on said bracket and to mesh with .said drive worm, a second pivot positioned eccentrically on said.

worm-wheel, a circular -member rotatably mounted inv a socket in said body, means for securing the circular member at different an-gular'positions in the socket, a third pivot arranged eccentrically on said circular member and a link pivoted to said second pivot and to said third pivot,:

whereby rotation of the steering axle causes the worm wheel to rotate and the bracket to swing horizontally about the first pivot so as to vary continuously the steering angle so that the vehicle follows a predetermined nonciroular path and whereby rotation of the circular member to a different'angular position in the socket causes alteration of the locus of said predetermined non-circular path.

4. A toy vehicle propelled by a battery-powered elec-,.

tric motor. the vehicle comprising a body, asubstantially vertical first pivot on the body, a bracket adapted to swing about said first pivot, a steering axle rotatably supported in said bracket, a drive worm fastened on'thei-axle, a worm wheel arranged to rotateon said bracket. and to mesh with said drive worm, a second pivot positioned eccentrically on said worm wheel, a circular member rotatably mounted in a socket in said body, an extension of said circular member having an arcuate slot, a screw.

device engaging said body and located insaid slot and capable of clamping said iextension with the. circular.

member in difierent angularpositions in. the, socket, a third pivot arranged eccentrically on said circular member and a linkpivoted to said second pivot and to said third pivot, whereby rotation of the steering axle causes; the.

worm wheel to rotate and the bracket to swing horizontally about the first pivot so as to vary continuouslythe steering,

angleso that the vehicle follows a predeterminednoncircular path and whereby rotation of the circular mem ber to a different angular position in-the socket. causes I I alteration of the locus of said predetermined non-circular path.

5.-A self-propelled my vehicle comprising upper and lower body portions secured to one another,. .a driving axle rotatably mounted between said upper and lower.

body portions, a battery-powered electric motor mounted of the circular member to a different angular positionin the socket causes alteration of the locus of said pre-.

determined non-circular path.

6.;In a'self-propelled toy vehicle in combinationa hollow body; a substantially vertical first pivot in the.

body,-a bracket'connectedtosaid body by said first pivot,

a non-driven steering axle 'rotatably mounted in said' bracket, a drive worm fastened on saidsteering axle, a worm wheel rotatably mounted on a pivot carried by said I bracket and meshing with said drive worm, a second pivot positioned eccentrically on .said worm wheel, a fixedthird pivot on said body and a linkpivoted to saidsecond pivot and to .saidthird pivot, whereby rotation of the steering.

axle causes the worm wheel: to rotate andthe bracket to swing horizontally about the first pivot so as to vary continuously the steering angle so .that the vehicle follows 1 a predetermined non-circular path; 3

7. AA toy vehicle propelled. by a battery-powered electric motor carried .by. the vehicle,: the vehicle? comprising a body, a substantially'vertical first pivot on the .body, a bracket; adapted to swing about said first pivot,'a front, non-driven steeringaxle rotatably mounted in said bracket,

a drive worm fastenedon the ,axle, a worm wheel arranged to rotate .on said bracket and to mesh.with said. drive tric motor. carriedon the vehicle, the. .Vehicle comprising 7 upper and lower body portions,-:a substantiallyvertical first pivot locating. in both. said body portions, a bracket adapted to swing about said first pivot, a ttront, non-driven steering gaxle rotat-ablyl mountedin'said bracket, a drive worm fastened on theaxleg: a worm wheel arranged within the body formed by said body portions and *in driving engagementwith said driving axle, a substantially vertical first pivot member locating. in both said body portions, a bracket adapted toswing about said first pivot,

a steering axle rotatably mountedin said bracket, a drive worm mounted on the axle, a worm wheel arranged to rotate von said bracket and to mesh with said drive worm, a second pivot positioned eccentrically on .said worm wheel, a circular member rotatably mounted. in a socket-in the lower body portion, means for securing socket, athird pivot arranged eccentrically on said circular member and a link pivoted to said second pivot and to said third pivot, whereby rotation of the. steering axle causes-the worm wheel to rotate and the bracket to swing horizontally about the first pivot-so as to vary continu-. ously the steering angleso that the vehicle follows-a predetermined non-circular path and whereby rotation the circular member at difierent angular positions in the to rotate on said bracket and to mesh with said drive worm,

a second tpivot positionedteccentrically on said worm wheel, a'circul-ar member rotatably mounted in a socket in the lower. :body portion, an extension of said circular member-having an arcuate slo't, ascrew device engaging said lower body portion and :located .ini said. slot and. capable of: clamping saidextension against thelower, body portion withtthev circular member. in different angular positions in the, socket, a third pivot arranged eccentrioally on said circular member and a link pivoted to said second pivot and to said {third pivotywhereby; rotation of the. steering :axle causes, the worm wheel to rotate and the.

bracket to swing horizontally about the first pivot so as to vary continuously:thesteeringsangle; so that the'vehiole follows a predeterminednon-circular path and wherebyrotation of. the circular member. to a difierent angular position in the socket causes alteration .of the locus of said predetermined non-circular path.

' References Citedby therExaminer.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 3,102,363 9/ 1963= f-Ferriott:- 46-244 FOREIGN PATENTS I 1,221,526 1/1960 France- 1C." PINKHAM, Primary" .Examiner.-

F. B: LEONARD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SELF-PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE IN COMBINATION A BODY, A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PIVOT ON THE BODY, A BRACKET MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT THEREABOUT, A STEERING AXLE ROTATABLE MOUNTED IN SAID BRACKET, A DRIVE WORM FASTENED ON SAID AXLE, A WORM WHEEL ARRANGED TO ROTATE ABOUT A PIVOT IN SAID BRACKET AND TO MESH WITH SAID DRIVE WORM, A PIVOT POSITIONED ECCENTRICALLY ON SAID WORM WHEEL, A FIXED PIVOT ON SAID BODY AND A LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ECCENTRIC PIVOT AND TO SAID FIXED, PIVOT, WHEREBY ROTATION OF THE STEERING AXLE TURNS THE WORM WHEEL AND SWINGS THE BRACKET ABOUT ITS PIVOT SO AS TO VARY CONTINUOUSLY THE STEERING ANGLE OF THE WHEELS OF THE STEERABLE AXLE. 